Weather-hit Whangārei road remains closed, with slip only 35% cleared

Work to clear a slip that has closed a key access route since January is about 35% complete, according to Whangārei District Council.

Russell Rd in Helena Bay was hit by a 110,000cu m slip on January 21. The road is the main access for about 800 homes and a handful of businesses in the Ōakura and Whangaruru areas.

A 2.5-hour route using the Ōpua car ferry is now the recommended route, although an alternate via Kaiikanui Rd is open to locals and contractors but is so treacherous it requires a pilot seven days a week.

Hikurangi-Coastal Ward Councillor Stephen Martin said the slip was about 35% cleared, with work including establishing a clean fill site near the intersection with Hay Rd.

Progress was little better than the 25% reported to a packed public meeting in Ōakura on March 31.

Martin said bad weather, including Cyclone Vaianu, forced contractors to stop work, losing three days.

Apart from the lost time, heavy rain during Vaianu caused no major damage to the slip site, with only minor clean-up needed, Martin said.

A new spring on the slip face had surfaced but would be managed with some minor drainage work, not expected to affect progress.

While the Helena Bay hill slip remained stable, Kaiikanui Rd continued to be impacted by worsening underslips, Martin said.

“One of the larger slips near 600 Kaiikanui Rd is still slowly getting worse and is currently the biggest risk along the route,” he said.

Project lead Curt Martin (left) and Whangārei District Councillor Stephen Martin discuss the difficulties of the Helena Bay hill slip, which is now 35% cleared. Photo / Denise Piper

The council was looking at narrowing the road as a short‑term safety measure to keep traffic away from the edge, he said.

There were other areas of concern along the route, including the Mimiwhangata Rd intersection and partway down Webb Rd, with the road needing to be moved back slightly, Martin said.

A few culverts near problem areas were also flagged for replacement.

The council planned to shut Kaiikanui Rd in May to enable the safety work to be done but a date had not yet been set, he said.

The budget for the January storm event remained at $16 million, with $10m for the Helena Bay hill slip and associated costs, Martin said.

The 110,000cu m slip, with boulders covering two-thirds of the road, continues to close Russell Rd at Helena Bay in Northland. Photo / Denise Piper

Local residents complaining about the lack of schedule for the pilots on Kaiikanui Rd were told the convoys ran as frequently as possible.

Two pilots ran on the route from 6.30am to 6.30pm daily, with each escorted trip taking about 35 to 40 minutes on the narrow, unsealed road.

Residents recently took to social media, saying the lack of schedule left them waiting up to 45 minutes for the pilot, if timed badly.

The council said safety on the fragile route was key and, with inconsistent travel times, the system worked on the convoys running as quick as possible rather than following a timetable.

Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.